A crime is committed. The perpetrator is caught. If you can picture the individual’s travels through the criminal justice system, you can get an idea of the variety of job opportunities in law enforcement.
Police officers Police officers are usually the initial point of contact when a crime is committed. They patrol communities, pursue criminals, have the power of arrest and enforce traffic and other laws. Specialized assignments can include forensics (fingerprint and DNA evidence, handwriting analysis), canine corps, bicycle or harbor patrol and the special weapons and tactics (SWAT) team. Police officers are required to testify in court when appropriate and must write reports and keep records of cases in which they are involved.
Probation officers Once a defendant pleads guilty to a crime, a judge orders a pre-sentence report. This is where the probation department comes in. Probation officers (POs) assigned to investigation units prepare pre-sentence investigation reports (PSI) by interviewing defendants in person. Writing skills are very important because reports must clearly convey information the judge needs in order to consider sentencing the defendants.
Through the interview and other research, such as reviewing paperwork from the district attorney’s office, POs obtain defendants’ backgrounds, why the offense was committed, family information, past criminal history, drug use and other facts.
If a victim is involved in the case and is willing to give a statement, this can be a valuable resource at sentencing time. Some jurisdictions require probation departments to obtain information from victims. Victims can indicate the impact the crime has had on their lives, what, if anything, was stolen and any injuries caused. The report ends with a recommendation for sentencing, where the PO indicates why a defendant is or is not a risk to the community.
Another role of the probation department is to supervise. POs assigned to supervise defendants meet with them regularly. Probationers (as the defendants are now called) are required to report to POs for regular visits. They must prove they are keeping to the terms of their punishments. For example, if community service is part of a sentence, defendants must say what they have done to uphold that requirement. POs also oversee defendants’ job searches or enrollment in substance abuse programs. POs must formally notify the court of any violations of probation. Sometimes this results in a revocation (taking back) of probation, and the defendant becomes incarcerated.
Corrections officers Even before being sentenced, defendants who are not able to post bail or bond are held at detention facilities temporarily. Corrections officers (COs) are assigned to detention facilities as defendants await sentencing. COs also supervise individuals in the area of courthouses where defendants are brought into court for their trials, interviews with probation officers or other appointments. COs keep track of inmates, inspect cells and beds, supervise recreational activities, deliver or supervise meals, supervise visits by friends and family and inform new inmates of acceptable behavior and the daily schedule of events. COs can also be responsible for transporting inmates to and from court or other facilities.
Parole officers If inmates comply with the behavior expected in prison, they might be released for good behavior to the supervision of a parole officer, whose responsibilities are similar to those of a supervising probation officer. For a term determined by parole boards, “parolees” must make regular visits to an officer, prove they are seeking employment, stay off drugs and not violate their paroles in any other respect. Parole officers counsel families to prepare them for the parolee’s release into the community. Parole officers prepare pre-parole recommendation reports that indicate whether inmates should be released. Home visits and visits of parolees on the job or at school are also part of a parole officer’s job.
Employment outlook Probation officers and parole officers are often required to have a bachelor’s degree in social work, criminal justice or a related field. For police officers, federal and state positions require college degrees. Some city or township police positions only require a high school diploma. Corrections officers are required to have at least a high school diploma.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average salary of probation and parole officers in 2000 was $38,150. For correctional officers, the average was $31,170. Although police department staffing is especially subject to budgetary constraints, police officers had median annual earnings of $39,790.
